Washing machine



Jan. 16, 1951 o. HOLM-HANSEN WASHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed ed. 21, 1944 0. HOLM-HANSEN Jan. 16, 1951 WASHING MACHINE Filed 0d. 21, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 4 demand Ila/Indians? Patented Jan. 16, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WASHING MACHINE Osmund Holm-Hansen, Fail-field, Conn. Application October 21, 1944, Serial No. 559,737

9 Claims. 1

My invention relates to improvements in washing machines, and especially to washing machines adapted to effect both the washing and drying of textile fabrics.

An object of my invention is to provide a washing machine that can easily be controlled so as to be changed from one mode of operation to another, and which will always be stable and noiseless in operation under all working conditions.

Another object is to provide a washing machine which is designed so that it will automatically realize and maintain dynamic balance when drying the fabric after the washing thereof is finished.

A further object of the invention is to provide a washing machine in which forces that would otherwise produce a state of unbalance and entail rough and noisy operation in the drying stage are automatically and immediately counteracted by means incorporated in the machine that ensure a continuous smooth and silent operation till the fabrics are thoroughly dried and ready for removal.

Additional objects and advantages are set out in the following description and drawings, but this disclosure presents only one embodiment of my invention. In practice various changes may be made without deviating from the essential character and principle of the invention, or exceeding its spirit and scope.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a washing machine according to my invention.

Figure 2 is atop view with part of the cover removed to show the drum inside the tank.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the top of the apparatus to illustrate the self-balancing action of the drum.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 at the top of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a section on line 55 at the lower end of Figure l, the scale being reduced.

The same numerals identify the same parts throughout.

In the particular description of what the drawings present, I employ the numeral l to indicate a tank, supported on legs 2. Within the tankis movably mounted the drum 3 which receives the clothes to be washed. This drum contains a suitable number of vanes or ribs 4, fixed in radial positions on the bottom of the drum. A shaft 5 passing centrally through the drum from top to bottom carries the drum and actuates the latter. The tank I has an opening 5 in the bottom surrounded by a high inside rim 1; and over this opening on the outer face of the bottom of the tank is a spider or disk 8, which supports a central bearing lined with a bushing of greased porous bronze or porous bronze in a sleeve or ferrule of synthetic rubber, or some similar material 9, engaging a shaft H] which is connected to the drum shaft 5. This member '9 because of the cushioning eifect of the rubber, acts as a damper of vibrations. The shaft II] is revolved by an electric motor ll, through suitable gearing set forth later herein. The upper end of the element III is hollow and receives the lower end of the shaft 5 rotatably therein.

At I2 is a suitably designed pump, driven by the motor II, and connected by a conduit I3 to an annular header M which is secured in stationary position in the tank I and surrounds the shaft 5. This shaft 5 is hollow from a point below the header up to its top and rotates freely in the header l4. Within the header the shaft has ports l5 which connect the header to the central bore I6 of the shaft 5. At its upper end this bore has several branches ll which open through the extremity of the shaft at points equidistant from the axis thereof. Abutting the upper extremity of the shaft 5 is a valve plug l8 which has a number of radial ducts I9 opening through the peripheral surface of the valve. The ducts l9 all open also at their inner ends through the inner or lower face of the valve at points equidistant from the central axis thereof. When the drum is in central position, these inner ends of ducts all lie within the compass of the outlets I1, as appears in Figure 1. But whenever the drum 3 rocks the shaft 5 away from true central position, as illustrated in Figure 3, one or more of the ducts I! will register with one or more ducts l9 and put the bore l6 into communication with one or more of the ducts IS on oneside of the valve I8. This communication, as is set forth below,is established whenever the drum is tilted when rotated at high speed for drying. During the washing of clothes, however, the drum 3 does not tilt from central position shown in Figure 1. The valve 18 has a hollow neck 22 that projects through a rimmed opening 20 in the cover 2| of the washing machine. The neck or boss and rimmed opening lie under a central knob 23 on the cover; and a spring 24 seating against a projection 25 in the knob enters the neck 22 and presses the valve against the upper end of the shaft 5. The cover 2| keeps this valve in position with its center in line with the axis of the shaft 5, so long as the latter is in true central position with respect to the tank I.

v The shaft I0 is coupled to the shaft 5 by a fric- 3 tion clutch within the aperture 3. The upper end of the shaft i9 is hollow and the lower end of the shaft is reduced to flt freely into the bore of the shaft I0 and can rotate therein. Just above the bearing 9, inside of the rim I the shaft It carries a conical clutch disk 26 which cooperates with a clutch disk 21 on the lower end of.

the shaft 5. To the opposing face of the disk 23 is secured a coned friction element 23. The shaft I0 can thus drive the shaft 5, but under predetermined conditions the clutch disks may slip while they are in engagement with each other. Thus the torque on the shaft I0 never exceeds a predetermined maximum.

The cover 2| of the tank I has a downturned edge 29 within the tank I, and this cover is completed by a flat ring 39 with a downturned rim to fit the top edge of the tank, welded or otherwise connected with the top of the cover Just over the edge 29. Enveloping the drum 3 is an annular row of external compartments 32. These compartments 32 are formed by a belt or band 32 of metal surrounding the drum and are separated from one another by partitions or webs 32a. The bottoms are closed except fordrain ports 33. At their upper ends these compartments or cells are open and their edges are beaded and surround the edge 29 of the cover. The tops of the partitions 32a do not make actual contact with the edge 29 of the cover because this edge is turned down to direct water into the cells or compartments 32. At its top the drum 3 is contracted somewhat to form a mouth of a diameter less than the full width of the drum, and the rim of the mouth is beaded as indicated at 34, with an inside reinforcing wire 35. This rim, when the cover is on the tank I, is at substantially the same level as the edge 29 on the underside of the closure 2|. The beaded eflect is interrupted as will be described later.

Attached to the underface of the cover 2| is a plate 3|. secured to the cover by flat vertical metal strips 36. These strips are in radial positions, and delineate channels in the cover; open at their inner ends to the discharge ducts l9. This plate 3| is supported by the cover 2| and strips 36 just above the rim of the mouth of the drum and closes it. Just beyond the rim 34 of the mouth, the circumferential edge of the plate 3| is turned down slightly like the edge 29. The mouths of the channels between the strips 36 lie between the edge 29 and the circumference of the plate 3| and deliver into the upper ends of the cells or pockets 32 through the space between the inturned tops of these cells and the outside curved surface of the drum Just below the beaded rim 34.

The compartments 32 extend all around the drum 3, and comprise, for example, four groups. These groups are separated one from another by similar cells or pockets 43, having bottom drain openings 44. The tops 45 of these cells 43 are extended over to the drum 3, past the circumference of the plate 3|, through recesses in the upper part of the drum; the lower edges of these recesses being below the tops 45 to make openings 46 leading from the drum 3 into the compartments 43. These tops have beaded inner extremities 34', which engage the reinforcing wire 35. The effect of the tops of the cells 43 is to screen these cells from the discharge ends of the channels in the cover 2|.

The band 32' is bent along its' lower edge and secured to the drum by welding or otherwise. It is also bent towards the drum along its top edge a 4 to form the bead 34. This bead with the wire 33 therein is interrupted at the locations of the cells 43. To form the tops of these cells 43 the band has extensions 45, which are bent over and extend under the plate 3|, the rim of which covers the beaded inner extremities 34'. The partitions 32a are between the inner face of the band and the outer face of the drum to make the cells 32 and 43.

At one end of the motor shaft I indicate one set of connections between the motor and the shaft Ill. The motor shaft has a pulley 31 connected by a belt to a larger pulley 38. This pulley 38 is mounted on a shaft supported in suitable bearings (not shown) which has a crank 39 united by a link 40 to a Journal 4| on a clutch member 42 upon the shaft it. Thus as the motor revolves, the crank 39 and link 49 will oscillate the clutch disk 42 and shaft I0, when this disk is coupled to said shaft. Through the friction clutch in the aperture 6 the drum 3 will be oscillated or swung around through an angle and back by the shaft 5. Of course the connections Just described between the motor and the shaft I0 is diagrammatic only, and will be suitably designed to serve the purpose in view. The shaft of pulley 38 operates the pump l2, as indicated in Figure 1.

For washing, the cover 2| is removed and the drum 3 is filled with articles of clothing and enough water and soap. Then the cover is replaced and the motor started to oscillate the drum till all the dirt is washed out of the clothes. The water in the drum is then drained through outlets 46 and 41, the latter being in the sides of the drum adjacent the cells 43, by rotation at high speed, as explained later, into the tank and then fresh water is admitted to the drum. The latter is now oscillated till the clothes are fully rinsed. Then the drying operation follows, and for this purpose the drum is whirled about at high speed in one direction only as fully described below. During ordinary washing the clothes in the drum 3 act to close the small openings 41, so as to retain most of the water in the drum.

The pump I2 will be of such design as to keep the header I4 and shaft 5 filled, but the pressure will not be high enough to lift the valve I8. Either the pump is a gear pump, and the conduit l3 has a relief valve therein to limit the pressure therein; or it is a centrifugal pump working at'a pressure which is constant. In the bottom of the tank I is a vertical overflow pipe 93, that prevents the water in the tank from'exceeding its permissible depth under the drum 3. The pump I2 is of course connected by an inlet pipe to a suitable supply of water, this pipe being omitted from the drawing for the sake of clearness.

To dry clothes after washing the drum 3 is whirled or spun by the element In and shaft 5 at a speed up to about 1500 revolutions per minute. This is accomplished by high speed connections with the opposite end of the shaft of the motor ll.

The clutch member 42 is loose on the shaft I9; and is not effective unless coupled to a clutch member 43. This member has a central part 48 fixed to the shaft; the member 48 is keyed to slide on the part 49' and carries two electromagnetic coils 49 and 30. It is just under the clutch element 42 and also controls a similar loose clutch element 5| below it, the element 5| also being loose on the shaft Ill. The member 48 can move up and down a short distance to engage the parts 42 and 5|. The two ends of the member 48 and the engaging ends of the elements 42 and 5| are preferably smooth; because magnetic force is sufficient to lock either element to the member 48. If desired, however, this member may bear teeth or keys around the rims to engage similar teeth or keys on the eleme ts 42 and 5|. When the coil 49 is energized, the disk 42 is coupled to the member 48; and then the motor oscillates the drum as above described. When the lower coil 50 is energized, the element 5| is coupled to the shaft and the upper disk 42 is released and does not rotate asthe shaft I8 revolves.

In the circumference of the member 48 are conductor rings 49a and 50a connected to the coils 49 and 56 respectively. These rings are of course insulated from the member 48, and are connected into the electric power circuit by brushes 4% and 501) respectively. Current can be supplied to either by a suitable switch arrangement, not shown, as will be understood. When the element 5| is coupled to the member 48, the motor revolves the member 48 and shaft I8 by a pulley 52 on the other end of the motor shaft coupled by a belt 53 to a pulley 54.

' The element 5| has a hub rigid with the hub 55 shaft l when the element is coupled to the,

member 48.

Hence when the circuit is closed to the coil 50, the motor whirls the drum 3 around at high speed, the shaft In transmitting motion as before to the shaft 5 through the friction clutch in the aperture 6. The motor can reach its maximum speed very quickly without slipping of the belt 53 because the clutch 21 now slips at first on the friction element 28. The inertia of the drum and contents is relatively great and the slipping will continue till this inertia is overcome and the drum catches up with the shaft I0. First the water in the drum 3 is expelled by centrifugal force through the openings 46 into the compartments 43 and drains therefrom into the tank through the ports 44. The last drops of moisture in the clothes pass out of the drum into the cells 43 through small openings 41 in the wall of the drum below the openings 46. When the spinning of the drum is finished the clothes are thoroughly dried. The shafts 5 and i8 form a single operating member for the drum 3.

During the extremely rapid rotation of the drum in the drying operation, however, the drum and contents must be maintained in dynamic balance. Otherwise the drum and shaft 5 will process; that is, rock or wobble to such an extent that the machine will be jarred and shaken severely and badly worn or even wrecked. To this end I mount on the lower end of the shaft I8 below the pulley 54 a hollow inverted coneshaped head60 containing a number of spherical metal weights 6|. The bottom of this head is inclined upward and has a retaining rim 62. When the shaft I0 is revolved at high speed by the motor these weights fly outward by centrifugal force as far as the rim 62, counterweighting the drum and contents, and all the conditions of dynamic equilibrium are thus established. The drum can rotate smoothly at high speed without risk of extreme wear and damage till the drying is completed. When the shaft I8 is motionless, the weights 6| roll down the inclined bottom of the head till they come to rest near the shaft l8. During the oscillation of the shaft for washing, by the linkage from the motor to the element 42 and member 48, the weights remain close to the axis of the shaft l0, because the centrifugal force is then too small to force them toward the rim 62 and have no effect. By means of partitions or ribs 64 in the head 68, a radial channel may be provided in the head for each of the weights 5|.

The fluid coupling afforded by the vaned members 58 and 58 takes most of the friction loss in washing and drying. The coupling is operated by oil between the parts 56 and 58.

The electric clutch comprising the member 48 and elements 42 and 5| are not part of this invention. Any suitable apparatus may be utilized to connect in the motor so that the the drum can be oscillated for washing, or spun or whirled around at high speed for drying. In the drying operation all rocking and shaking of the machine are eliminated because the drum and operating shafts are perfectly balanced at both top and bottom.

The full operation ofthe machine can now be given. To wash and rinse the clothes the drum 3 is oscillated, as stated above, and for drying the drum is rotated in one direction with great rapidity. One may, for example, treat each batch of clothes by washing, rinsing three times and drying. Only during the first series is it necessary to have warm water. The different steps are begun by switching in the means for accomplishing either quick spinning or oscillation. The filling of the drum 3 with water, starting the pump l2 are performed by means of electrical contacts connected to a rotary contact plate (not shown) which turns fully around once for each series, automatically. To rinse, spin the drum to expel water, add cold water; oscillate; then spin again; and repeat.

First the clothes are put in the spinning container 3, then warm water is supplied and the necessary soap added. The lid 2| is now put in place and a starting switch is closed to bring about oscillating the container 3 back and forth for some minutes. The shaft 5 is now actuated from pin 4|. During this oscillation the heavy ball weights 6| roll freely at the bottom of the head 68; but are without effect.

The clutch member 48 is now released from the element 42 for some seconds and then shaft I8 is clutched in, being revolved by the belt 53. The vaned elements 56 and 58 and the oil or other medium therefor will prevent any sudden shock or overload on the motor or the other parts. Should this fluid transmission device not be able to absorb all the speed difference or inertia due to change of momentum, then the friction clutch 26 will come into play and, by slipping, prevent over-stressing of any part. This friction clutch would develop too much heat if working alone; that is why the fluid transmission device is put in. These two parts work together. The friction clutch is low priced and may be regarded as a safety device only. Preferably, the fluid transmission device, filled with oil, will take care of the whole burden entailed in the change of momentum, by itself. I

As speed gains for the drum 3 the wet clothes and water will be impelled outwards by centrifugal force and soon the water surface indicated at ZN will be almost vertical. Most of the water is expelled over the upper edge of the drum 3. As already stated the plate 3| is separated by the cover 2| and the strips 36 just above the beaded rim as around the top of the drum, and through this space the water is discharged. It flows down upon the bottom of container 1. When no more water can pass over the rim, then water will still pass through openings 46, into the cells 44 and down into the tank I. When full speed is attained, possibly 1500 R. P. M. or more, little water remains in the clothes, and the last of it will go through the small holes 46. The clothes will now be so dry that they can be ironed without first hanging in the sun or passing through an electric drier, thus saving much time and labor.

At the start of spinning the drum 3, the water surface in the drum is at the level of the line VT but soon changes to the vertical line ZN. In the sameshort time all the clothes are flung outward against the circumferential wall of the drum. But from this moment on there will ensue an unbalanced condition, for the heavy wet clothes are not uniformly spaced or distributed around the shaft. Instead they are apt to be "bunched or lumped in one or more places. Great risk of damage thus arises and the total mass of drum and contents must be equalized around the axis of rotation. The regulating valve l8 on top of the shaft is free to travel around with the drum and never moves off center. But whenever the clothes load tends to concentrate and overweight or depress the drum at any point, the shaft 5 tilts or leans as it revolves. toward that point. One or more of the ducts I] thus come into registry with the ducts is in the valve ill on the side opposite that point, and water forced by the pump I! thus flows through the channels in the cover 2| to the compartments 32 on the opposite slightly raised side of the drum 3. The tilting or leaning of the shaft is permitted by the bearing 9. The water in the compartments 32 on the side opposite any concentration. of load in the drum counterweights and balances the clothes therein. The valve l8 thus works as long as water particles are given off by the clothes, that is, for the whole or drying spinning time. For this reason the small holes 33 are located in the compartments 32 so as to slowly drain away the water through the bottoms of the compartments. The head of water in these will fall from the top to almost the bottomof the compartments from the commencement of spinning when they are full, till end of the drying, when they are almost empty of water. And the number and situation of compartments filling and draining will change all the time spinning continues. New channels in the top 2| and new ducts is will receive water, as other ducts i9 cease to register with the ducts II. The drum is therefore maintained in balance.

Hence balance of mass during rapid revolution for drying is produced by means of the pump I2, the valve ill on top of the shaft 5 and the compartments 32. The drum thus becomes a gyroscope that may be considered as flxed in mass and rotating around the vertical axis of the shaft.

But any gyroscope will precess." The axis does not hold position but the upper and lower ends will each describe a complete circle, if free to move.

Now a spinning gyroscope will precess in the direction in which it spins if it is unstable; that is, if the center of mass is above the center of support. If the gyroscope on the other hand is stable (the mass center being below the center of support) the precession will be in the opposite direction. To suppress the precession of an unstable gyroscope will cause an even greater degree of precession or vibration; and to make fill the point of support and the center of gravity coincide would be far too diflicult. Therefore in this invention the gyroscope" is supported Just above its center of mass, to do away with the tendency to precession as much as possible within practical limits. This result is gained by the presence of the coned head or weight container 60 and weights BI, and the position of the bearing 0.

As the angular velocity of the drum increases. the balls Blwill be thrown out to the rim of head so and thus increase the weight and momentum of the lower end of the shaft. The halls are revolved at the same angular velocity of spin as the shaft in and drum 3, by means of the ribs 64 inside the cone terminating short of the bottom and leaving the balls free when the shaft I is oscillated, so as to decrease the mass. While in my case the gyroscope (meaning the whole whirling or spinning part of the washer) is made slightly stable by supporting the shaft a little above the center of gravity, any small tendency to process is then virtually overcome by the rubher-containing bearing 9, to minimize or almost entirely dampen out the precession. Therefore. the axis of the shaft will stay vertical and there will be no perceptible vibration.

Thus, by converting my washing machine into a symmetric gyroscope. and suppressing the tendency for precession, I have solved the problem of rapid revolution till complete dryness is attained.

After washing, rinsing and drying, the cycle may be repeated possibly two more times, in order to get the utmost in cleanliness. The switch now admits current to the other coil 49 again of the magnetic clutch, thus causing the motor to actuate the crank pin ll. After drying there should be a few seconds of free run, to allow the spinning drum to slow down somewhat. When the oscillations start there will be slipping in the hydraulic clutch and possibly also in the friction clutch, depending mostly upon how heavily the washer is loaded with clothes for washing.

During oscillation the balls 6| and the friction clutch 26 are inactive. The friction clutch has the angle of its faces so proportioned, that there will be no slipping while oscillating.

The water in the bottom of the tank i may be heated by an electric element, but in any event there will be a drain to the sewer from this tank, as well as a water supply pipe (not shownl for admitting rinsing water into the tank I. The pipe may have a valve operated by a solenoid energized from the above mentioned control disc which commences rotating upon the closing of the starter switch.

Having described my invention. what I believe to be new is:

1. A washing machine having a drum, an upright shaft supporting said drum to rotate the latter, said drum having compartments on its periphery, a cover on the drum'having radial channels, the shaft having a bore therein and ports at the upper end thereof, and a valve supported by the cover at the upper end of the shaft,

controlling communication between the bore and the channels on the drum, the machine comprising means for tiltably supporting the shaft and drum relative to the cover and the valve to effect such communication.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1 wherein said drum has additional compartments on its periphery adjacent the aforesaid compartments communicating with said drum through which liquid in said drum is expelled at high speed of said drum.

3. A washing machine having a drum, an upright shaft for rotating said drum about an axis, a container attached to said shaft having an inside conical surface with a bent up retaining rim, and a plurality of freely movable elements in said container and resting on said surface responsive to centrifugal force to balance the drum and contents at high speed thereof, said container being disposed on the shaft below the drum.

4. A washing machine having a drum, a member comprising a shaft for supporting said drum to rotate about an axis, said shaft having a bore, means for supplying a fluid medium thereto, said shaft having outlets leading from said bore to its exterior, a valve mounted in the upper part of said machine in line with and engaging the shaft, said valve having ports adjacent the outlets and radial ducts leading therefrom, means for yieldably mounting said shaft, so that when the shaft tilts one or more of said outlets registers with one or more of said ports, said drum having compartments, and means forming channels connecting said ducts to said compartments, for the purpose set forth.

5. A washing machine having a drum, means forming compartments carried by said drum on its periphery, said compartments being open adjacent the top of the drum, an upright shaft carrying the drum, the shaft having a bore therein open at the top thereof, connections to supply fluid to said bore, means at the top of the drum forming channels each having one end in position to deliver to said compartments and its opposite end adjacent said shaft, and a valve element engaging the upper end of the shaft and controlling communication between said bore and said channels.

6. The washing machine according to claim 5, wherein said drum has additional compartments spaced apart and adjacent the first-named compartments, said additional compartments communicating with the drum through the rim thereof, and havin drain openings, for the purpose set forth.

7. A washing machine having a drum, means forming compartments on the periphery of said drum, some of said compartments communicating with the interior of the drum through open- 10 ings in the wall thereof, at equidistant points and dividing the remainder into groups, the latter having open ends at the rim of said drum. said compartments all having outlet ports, a member comprising a drive shaft supporting said drum, said shaft projecting through the drum and having an end substantially flush with the rim thereof, said shaft having a bore with branched outlets at said end, a closure for the drum, a valve mounted in the closure and having a face engaging said end of said shaft, said valve having ports in its face encircled by said outlets when said shaft is in central position and radial ducts connected to said ports, means in the closure forming channels leading from said ducts to the open ends of said groups of compartments, means for supplying fluid to the bore in the shaft, a yielding bearing in said machine to engage said member and means for rotating said member at high speed.

8. A washing machine having a drum therein to receive textile fabrics, an upright shaft member supporting said drum to rotate the latter, a hollow head on said shaft below the drum and rigid with said shaft to turn with the drum, the head having an inverted conical surface and movable masses resting therein, and means providing a bearing for the shaft below the drum and above the head.

9. A washing machine having a drum, a member comprising a shaft rigidly fixed to the drum and supporting the latter to rotate about an axis, said shaft having bore therein, means for supplying a fluid medium to said bore, said shaft having outlets leading from said bore to its exterior, a valve mounted coaxially of said shaft adjacent said outlets, said valve having ports communicating with said outlets, and passages leading from said ports, means for yieldably mounting said'member so that when the shaft tilts one or more of said outlets register with one or more of said ports, said drum having compartments each of which communicates with said valve at one end of said compartments.

OSMUND HOLM-HANSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS Number 

